Worship in Korea
A look at the many faiths of Korean history.
Location: North Korea; South Korea
Korean Shamanism
Over the centuries, Korea has been home to many religions. None, however, have survived longer than its native shamanism, or Muism. When Buddhist monks built the first monasteries of Korea, they placed them over ancient mountain shrines. The two religions prospered side by side for many centuries, serving different roles within their communities. Muism also adopted elements of Taoism around this time. The resulting mix of faiths proved both popular and durable. While Buddhism was cast aside in the late Goryeo, shamanism never lost its hold in the villages.
Muism in its present form is practiced by Mudang, a female order of shamans. In previous centuries, men also acted as shamans, or P'ansu, but were never as prominent. Mudang were not masters of spirits so much as intermediaries. They stepped between humans, gods, and spirits for the benefit of all. They led ceremonies, or kut, meant to ward away spirits, cure the sick, and release pent-up emotions. Despite their popularity in villages, shamans were members of the base class.[1][2][3]
Korean Buddhism
Buddhism arrived in Korea through China during the 3rd century CE. There, it blended with Taoism and Muism, quickly gaining a foothold in the Three Kingdoms. Goguryeo was the first to officially embrace the new religion in 372. It was followed by Baekje in 384 and Silla by 528. Monasteries popped up like forts on top of mountains. They became powerful rural centers, complete with their own farms and armies.
Korean Buddhism, drawing from other faiths, grew into the school of Seon Buddhism. Seon is related to Japanese Zen, but it is older and enforces celibacy in its monks. The question of marriage and meat-eating, permitted under Japanese occupation, caused a violent schism between Seon and Zen Buddhists in the 20th century. The two orders split and now worship separately.[4][5]
Confucian Philosophy and Worship in Korea
Confucianism developed in China during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. It appeared in Korea around the same time as Buddhism but did not see widespread practice until the late Goryeo period. Like Buddhism, Confucianism is both philosophy and religion. Its emphasis on family, loyalty, and natural harmony guided Joseon government as well as the worship of its people. Shrines dedicated to family ancestors honored the dead for up to four generations. In politics, Confucian ideals of merit and learning shaped the Joseon ruling class, the yangban.[6][7]
Christianity in Korea
Christianity became a major presence in Korea during the 19th century. Missionaries arrived with churches and hospitals in tow, hoping to win the hearts and minds of Korean villagers. Most were American or English Protestants. But their efforts would likely have been in vain if not for the Korean Christians who came before them.
When it first appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries, Christianity was met with skepticism by Korean scholars. They shunned its belief in miracles and celibacy, which reminded them of Buddhism. A few, however, based only on the texts they could find, converted and baptized themselves. Most early Christians were Jesuit Catholics. By 1801, there were around 4,000 in Korea. They faced regular and sometimes violent persecution for their beliefs. Later, Protestantism became more popular through foreign missionaries.[8]
Modern Worship in South Korea
According to its 2015 census, South Korea is primarily a nation of non-believers. A full 56.1 percent of the population do not claim any religious affiliation. Another 19.7 percent are Christians, and 15.5 percent identify as Buddhists. Furthermore, Muism is still very popular, with hundreds of thousands of Mudang practicing today. As a nation founded on diversity of belief, South Korea's many religious communities coexist as they have for thousands of years.[9]
Bibliography
Haeyoung Jeong, Archaeology of Psychotherapy in Korea: A Study of Korean Therapeutic Work and Professional Growth (London: Routledge, 2015).
Oliver Leaman, Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (London: Routledge, 2013), 487.
Jung Young Lee, Korean Shamanistic Rituals (The Hague: Mouton, 1981).
Ronald S. Green, "East Asian Buddhism" in A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy, ed. Steven M. Emmanuel (Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell, 2016), 110-126.
Ahn Kye-hyon, "Introduction of Buddhism to Korea" in Introduction of Buddhism to Korea: New Cultural Patterns, ed. Lewis R. Lancaster and Chai-Shin Yu (Berkeley , CA: Asian Humanities Press, 1989), 1-28.
Eunsuk Cho and Miai Sung, The World of Bereavement: Cultural Perspectives on Death in Families, ed. Joanne Cacciatore and John DeFrain (Cham: Springer, 2015), 81-97.
Michael J. Seth, A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011), 122-123.
Ibid., 222-245.
"More Koreans Now Non-Believers, Census Shows," The Korea Times, January 10, 2017, Korea Times, accessed June 02, 2017.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
